Frozen aisle helps Canadians save at the till

Rising produce prices can make planning a meal stressful, however there are a few things you can do to make sure you’re eating healthy and not breaking the bank.

The best options sit in the freezer aisle, according to registered nutritionist Brooke Bulloch from Food to Fit.

“Fruits and vegetables in the frozen form go on sale more often and tend to be cheaper,” Bulloch said. “You can get broccoli, carrots, snap peas, berries and mango … imported products once they are picked through they are frozen right at ripeness so they tend to have a little more flavour and nutritional value.”

Bulloch added consumers need to double-check there’s no added sugar or sodium.

With the average food bill expected to rise about four per cent and about eight per cent of our fruits and vegetables coming from imports, Bulloch said a good way to ensure your grocery bills don’t get out of control is buying seasonal produce locally.

“Potatoes, squash, apples, bananas and oranges, there’s nothing wrong with this produce, although people can get wrapped in the superfood trap, there’s nothing wrong with our basics,” Bulloch said.

Maybe you avoid the frozen aisle at all costs? If that’s the case, there’s plenty of diversity in the produce aisle and many options for people to try including eggplant and bok choy.

If you love pre-planning, Bulloch recommends downloading the app ‘FLIPP’ which compares flyers and coupons for grocery store chains in the city.

Despite the stress at the checkout Bulloch said she still has several clients who choose to dine out a few times per week, which isn’t the best option when trying to eat healthy and save money.

“You can’t tell me that you’re concerned about your grocery bill when you’re still eating out three to five times a week and a lot of that comes down to Canadians are still wasting food,” Bulloch said.